Watching Ste''s innocent, bewildered expression and then ncing at Ronald''s icy demeanor, Finley couldn''t shake the feeling that one wrong word might earn him a broken leg, courtesy of Ronald. "Come on, use that brain of yours that supposedly made you seven hundred thousand a year!"


    Ste quipped, "As if you have a brain."


    "Yes, Ick a brain," Finley quickly conceded, deciding that admitting to being brainless was far preferable to a broken leg.


    Still, ow, that hurt. Ronald really seemed intent on taking him down a peg or two.


    Finley''s leg throbbed painfully.


    Soon, the conversation turned to business matters among the men, touching asionally on topics like the military matters and the power ys of Ferrond''s major families.


    Ste sat quietly next to Ronald, obediently eating whatever he served her. She usually ate well, especially if Ronald was the one offering the food.


    As the evening drew to a close, amotion erupted from outside.


    Cloudiained, "How can you me this all on me? Aren''t you her father too?"


    Ste instinctively nced toward the door, spotting Cloudia and ise, along with Yorick and Orion, making their entrance, all looking far from pleased. "I''ve been swamped with thepany. Isn''t it your job to handle things at home?" ise retorted.


    "I do handle it! And every time there''s something about her, I''ve always reported back to you. You never had any objections," Cloudia defended.


    Mentioning Ste always seemed to lead to headaches for both ise and Cloudia.


    "So, what do we do now? We can''t even reach her by phone. Rick mentioned she''s gotten involved with... with the Lugar family..."


    ise''s words trailed off as his gazended on Ste, and he cut himself off mid-sentence.


    Ste had already averted her gaze, not sparing him a single unnecessary nce.


    "Star?"


    ise instinctively called out to her.


    Following his gaze, Cloudia turned to see Ste as well.


    Yorick also saw Ste. Seeing her


    sitting next to Ronald, a lump suddenly formed in his throat, and without thinking, his hands clenched into fists.


    ise approached. "Star, I... um..."


    Ronald shot Idris a look, and Idris immediately blocked ise''s path.


    Ronald softly asked Ste, "Are you done with your meal?"


    Ste nodded.


    "Let''s go then."


    ise, intercepted by Idris, grew anxious. He called out, "Star, I want to talk to you."


    Ronald, pulling Ste along without giving ise a second nce, was already moving away.


    Yorick, who had been trying to catch Ronald''s attention, stepped forward. "Mr. Quinn, a word, please."


    His frustration was evident,


    especially when he saw Ste''s hand


    in Ronald''s. He barely managed to suppress the sh of


    eyes.


    Swnoy


    Ronald shot him a chilling nce.


    In that brief moment of eye contact, Yorick felt the icy threat in Ronald''s gaze. The air seemed to freeze.


    Ronald smirked before turning to Ste. "Tired?"


    Ste nodded, almost imperceptibly.


    Yorick, catching his breath, nced at Ste, confused.


    What did this mean?


    Ronald then announced, "Let''s head back and get some rest."


    Yorick stood there, speechless, wondering since when had Ste''s tiredness be a matter of business?


    ise and Cloudia were equally


    stunned. Who could have imagined that Ste, once easily dismissed by them, eould now cause them such significant setbacks with just a few words?